Geoege cowdeet and edwin bobins thomas



(No Modell) A C'. GOWDERY & E. R. THOMAS.

' RAIL FORBAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS .l l No. 289,626. f Patented Deo. 4,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

GEORGE OOVDERY AND EDWIN ROBINS THOMAS, OF SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES,AUSTRALIA.

RAIL FOR RAILhWAYS AND TRAIVIWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,626, dated December4, 1883.

Application filed August 9, 1883. (No model.) Patented in England April11, 1883, No. 1,825, and in New South Wales May To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE CoWDERY and EDWIN BoBINs THOMAS, subjects ofthe Queen of. Great Britain, residing at Sydney, in the Colony of NewSouth Vales, Australia, have invented a new and useful Bail for Railwaysand Tramways, (for which we have obtained Letters of Registration in NewSouth Wales, No. 1, 243, bearing date May 26, 1883, and a patent inGreat Britain, No. 1,825, and bearing date April 11, 1883,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improved rail for railways and tramways,built up or constructed of two similar sections, giving four perfect andindependent flanges to work upon; and the objects of our improvementsare to give a longer life to the track, combined with great economy ofmetal for the required strength, the weight of the fastenings being alsomuch less than for rails in ordinary use. We obtain these objects by theconstruction and combination illustrated upon the accompanying sheet ofdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of part of a track with ourimproved rail; Fig. 2, a plan of same, the letter F indicating joint oftop rail and center of bottom rail; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionat C D, Figs. 1 and 2, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Our rail complete consists in the combination of two separate sectionsor rails, A A, of the saine transverse section, as shown on thedrawings. rIhe two sections or rails are to be placed or builttogetherto form one rail. The two rails or sections which combined form therail, having the same transverse section, can be turned over laterally,or end vfor end, and either be made to take the place or position of theother, thus giving in each change of position a freshworking surface ortread, this combination having the advantage of a fourheaded rail. Therails are to be seated at intervals in chairs placed upon sleepers, andthe chairs pinned to the sleepers in the ordinary manner. The chairs areto be vof the form shown, or of a similar form to that shown in thedrawings, according to the sizes and weights of the rails to be used. Atgiven spaces the two sections of the rail are to be Xed together by pinsor bolts B. These pins or bolts pass through elongated holes in eachsection of the rail, as shown in the drawings at E E. While placingthesepins or bolts in position the rails or sections must be sprungtoward each other by means of a cramp for this purpose. When the pins orbolts are in position and the cramp released, the shoulder under thehead of the pin iits into the elongated hole tightly, preventing anypossibility of the pin turning or altering its position, thus forming aperfect tie or fastening. The pins or bolts cannot be displaced exceptby the use of the cramp, and the tendency of the load upon the rails isto tightenthe pins. By this combination a break of joint can be secured(see drawings at F) without the use of fish-plates, screw-bolts, andnuts, and without reducing the strength or efficiency of the rail in anyrespect. With this combination rail the use of keys in the chairs, isentirely superseded, as the lower flanges of the sections A A of railfix tightly under the lips a of the chairs, but do not rest on thechairs, thusl preventing any possibility of wear on the faces of theflanges previous to their being turned. However, i11- some instances,.it may be deemed advisable to usea pin or bolt, B, at the chairs, forwhich provision hasbeen made, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Therolling weight or load is sustained entirely by a center piece in thechair on which the upper iianges rest. (See drawings at G, Fig. 3.)

Among the advantages ofthe abovespecied rail are that it combines allthe best features of the Barlow rail, the double-headed rail, thebridge-rail, and rail of the contractors pattern; the distribution ofmetal in each section will allow of their being well and soundly rolled;there will be less weight perl lineal yard to sustain au equal load; itpresents four new and independent .flanges to work over, giving, asaforesaid, a long life to the rail; fish-plates, screw-bolts, and nutslare not required for fixing; it gives break of joint without weakness;wooden keys are dispensed with; the laying, relaying, or shifting iseffected with rapidity; considerably less weight in rails per linealyard for equal loads than required in ordinary rails. The lower sectioncould be used as apermanent foundation, (and, if considered moreeconomical,) of tougher 5 metal, and the upper section of steel, whichalone need be shifted or renewed.

The points, crossings, and switches kmay be similar to those at presentused.

What we claim as our invention, and desire 1o to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. A rail formed of thetwo sections A A, having similar top and bottomflanges, A A, forming four perfect and independent flanges, the topflanges overlapping when the two 15 parts are combined to form a rail,substantially as shown and described. p

2. A rail formed of the two sections A A,

the pin or bolt B passing through fthe elongated holes E E, and iXingthe two sections GEORGE COVVDERY. EDWIN ROBINS THOMAS.

Witnesses:

HENRY HALLORAN, C. A. LAWRENCE.

